Guide, fill-enabling and filtering device for a tank, in particular for a tank of urea solution for a motor vehicle fitted with a diesel engine

ABSTRACT

The device comprises a hollow external body, operationally arranged in a filler of the tank and anchored in which, with the interpositioning of a permanent magnet, is an internal body which defines an essentially tubular passage. The arrangement is such that when the nozzle of a urea solution distributor pistol is inserted into the passage of the internal body, the magnet causes an opening of an on/off valve in the pistol, permitting the input of a flow of the said solution into the tank. The device also comprises a filter through which the urea solution is intended to pass. 
     At its end turned operatively towards the outside of the tank the internal body is provided with suitable means of connection for snapping onto corresponding retention formations provided in the external body, and the filter is integrated with the end of the external body intended to be turned towards the inside of the tank.

This invention relates to a guide and fill-enabling device for a tank, in particular for a tank of urea solution for a motor vehicle fitted with a Diesel-cycle engine.

More specifically, the subject of this invention is a guide, fill-enabling and filtering device of the type comprising a hollow external body, operationally arranged in a filler of such a tank and in which, with the interpositioning of a permanent magnet, an internal body which defines an essentially tubular passage is anchored; the arrangement being such that when the nozzle of a distributor pistol for the above-mentioned solution is inserted into the passage of the internal body, the magnet causes an opening of an on/off valve in the pistol, permitting the input of a flow of the said solution into the tank, the device also comprising a filter through which the fluid that flows through the aforesaid passage in the internal body is intended to pass.

In order to reduce the emission levels of nitrogen oxides from Diesel engines, systems have been developed for some years that envisage the injection of an aqueous solution of urea into the exhaust pipes. The urea solution, also known by the registered trademark AdBlue, is essentially a 32.5% solution of extremely pure urea in demineralized water. This solution is contained in a special tank fitted on the motor vehicle. This tank is periodically filled with the solution, for example at a fuel filling station, by using a special pistol with a magnetically controlled on/off valve.

One object of this invention is to improve and, in particular, simplify the structure and the assembly procedures of a guide and fill-enabling device for such a tank.

These and other objects are achieved according to the invention by a device of the type specified above, characterized by the fact that at its end which is turned towards the outside of the tank the aforesaid internal body is provided with suitable means of connection for snapping onto corresponding retention formations provided in the external body, and the filter is integrated with the end of the external body intended to be turned towards the inside of the tank.

Thanks to these characteristics, the guide and fill-enabling device according to the invention is essentially composed of just two parts, namely the internal body and the external body realized integrally, i.e. in a single piece, with the associated filter.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear from the detailed description which follows, which is purely exemplificative and not limitative, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partly exploded perspective view which shows a filler for a tank of urea solution and an associated guide, fill-enabling and filtering device according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section view along the line II-II of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the internal body of a device according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the external body of a device according to the invention;

FIG. 5 is an axial section view of a filler with a bayonet coupling system for a tank of urea solution usable in association with a guide, fill-enabling and filtering device according to the previous figures;

FIG. 6 is a plan view from above of a support ring operationally fixed inside the filler according to FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view along the line VII-VII of FIG. 6.

Number 1 in FIG. 1 indicates a filler for a tank, in particular a filler for an aqueous solution of urea for a motor vehicle fitted with a Diesel engine.

The filler 1, which is also visible in FIG. 5, can be made, for example, using a moulded plastic material, and internally has a suitable thread 2 (FIG. 5) to permit it to be screwed onto a tubular mouthpiece (not illustrated), threaded externally, of the associated tank which, incidentally, could be made conveniently using the rotational moulding technique.

In the solution illustrated in the drawings, intended to be fixed inside the filler 1 is a support ring indicated altogether by 3 in FIGS. 1, 6 and 7.

The ring 3, which is made, for example, with a moulded plastic material, is conveniently provided on its periphery with an annular sealing gasket 4 moulded onto it and therefore integral with it.

This gasket protrudes radially with regard to the ring 3.

In the embodiment illustrated, two diametrically opposed brackets 5, made in a single piece with this filler and provided with respective through-holes 6, extend from the inner surface of the filler 1.

Correspondingly, two recesses 7, with a form that is essentially complementary to that of the filler brackets 5, and provided with respective through-holes 8, are made in the top face of the support ring 3.

In use, the support ring 3 is intended to be threaded through the bottom end of the filler 1, which has a greater diameter, until its recesses 7 engage with a coupling with the form of the brackets 5 of the filler. In this condition the sealing gasket 4 rests against the inside surface of the bottom part of the filler 1.

The holes 6 of the filler and 8 of the support ring 3 then permit fixing to the mouthpiece of the tank, by means of self-tapping screws, for example.

Number 10 in FIGS. 1 and 2 indicates the entirety of a guide and fill-enabling device according to the invention.

This device comprises an external body 11, with an essentially tubular form, inserted and anchored in which is an internal body indicated in its entirety by 12. These bodies, both conveniently made of a moulded plastic material, are illustrated separately in FIGS. 3 and 4.

As can be seen in the figures from 1 to 3, the inside of the internal body 12 defines an essentially cylindrical passage and terminates at the top with a flange 12 a.

The internal body 12 has a further intermediate flange 14 (FIG. 3) from which two essentially longitudinal, diametrically opposed arms 15 extend upwards.

These arms, which are made in a single piece with the internal body 12, terminate at the top with respective coupling formations 16 which, as can be better seen in FIG. 2, have a cross-sectional form essentially in the shape of a C open to the outside.

The coupling formations 16 of the arms 15 of the internal body extend through corresponding notches 17 arranged at the top of the external body 11 (see FIG. 4 in particular). Furthermore, the arms 15 are capable of being compressed elastically, one towards the other, as they approach the centreline of the central passage 13 of the internal body 12.

As can be better seen in FIG. 3, below the top flange 12 a, coupling prominences 18 (of which only one is visible in FIG. 3) extend from the outer surface of the body 12, and couple in the assembly by slotting into corresponding openings 19 (FIG. 4) arranged in the top part of the external body 11 (also see FIG. 1).

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, a permanent annular magnet 20 is arranged around the bottom of the body 12 in the external body 11. Two toric rings (O-rings) 21 and 22 (FIG. 2) are arranged respectively upstream and downstream from the permanent magnet 20 to ensure the tightness between the internal body 12 and the external body 11.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the guide and fill-enabling device 10 also includes a filter 23, the structure or bearing frame of which is made of a moulded plastic material, integrally or in a single piece with the bottom end of the body 11 which is intended to be turned towards the inside of the tank. The guide, fill-enabling and filtering device 10 is conveniently preassembled and then fitted in the filler 1, after the latter has first been fitted with the associated support ring 3. In particular, the device 10 is anchored to the support ring 3 as an effect of the engagement of the coupling formations 16 of the internal body 12 with corresponding bracket-type coupling formations 24 (FIGS. 1, 6 and 7) provided at the internal edge of this ring. In order to make this coupling, the formations 16 of the internal body 12 are first brought close to one another by means of a tool and are then released as soon as their external notches are aligned with the formations 24 of the ring 3, in such a way as to permit coupling as an effect of the elastic return of the arms 15 of the said internal body.

Alternatively, the guide and fill-enabling device 10 can first be coupled to the support ring 3 and then the assembly formed by them can be fitted in the filler 1.

In any case, a particularly advantageous characteristic can be found in the fact that the device 10 as a whole can be easily disengaged from the support ring 3 and extracted from the filler 1, for cleaning or replacement as required.

Naturally, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the forms of actuation and the embodiment details can be widely varied compared with what has been described and illustrated for non-limiting exemplificative purposes only, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the attached claims. 

1. Guide and fill-enabling device for a tank, in particular for a tank of urea solution for a motor vehicle fitted with a Diesel-cycle engine, comprising a hollow external body, operationally arranged in a filler of the tank and in which, with the interpositioning of a permanent magnet, an internal body which defines an essentially tubular passage is anchored; the arrangement being such that when the nozzle of a distributor pistol for the above-mentioned solution is inserted into the passage of the internal body, the magnet causes an opening of an on/off valve in the pistol, permitting the input of a flow of the said solution into the tank, the device also comprising a filter through which the fluid that flows through the aforesaid passage is intended to pass; the device being characterized by the fact that at its end which is turned operatively towards the outside of the tank the internal body is provided with suitable means of connection for snapping onto corresponding retention formations provided in the external body, and the filter is integrated with the end of the external body intended to be turned towards the inside of the tank.
 2. Device according to claim 1, in which the complex formed by the external body and by the internal body has suitable connection formations for allowing it to be anchored to the filler; the device being characterized by the fact that the said connection formations are realized in the internal body and extend through corresponding apertures or passages in the external body.
 3. Device according to claim 2, in which the said connection formations comprise at least two longitudinal springy arms which extend from the internal body towards the end intended to be turned towards the outside of the tank, and which have respective coupling formations which extend through the said openings or passages in the external body and which can be brought elastically towards the centreline of the said passage, to then engage with corresponding coupling formations that are operationally integral with the filler.
 4. Device according to claim 3, in which fixed in the filler is a support ring on the periphery of which is moulded an integral annular sealing gasket that engages the internal surface of the filler; these coupling formations being realized in the said support ring. 